Electric switch actuating mechanism



Dec. 7, 1948. R. A. oHLsoN 2,455,799

ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM /Filed June 17, "194e v 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR REYNOLD ALGOT OHLSON,

Dec. 7, 1948. RA. OHLSON ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1946 INVENTOR REYNoLD ALsoTOHLoN BY f l L n,

ATT ANEY Patented Dec. 7, l948\ ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Reynold A. Ohlson, Plainville, Conn., asslgnor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainvllle, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June 17, 194.8, Serial No. 677,205

1I) Claims. l

This invention relates to enclosed or safety electric switches and particularly to manually operable means for actuating the contact making and braking mechanism.

The main object is to provide actuating mechanism which is adapted to be readily applied to a supporting wall, such for instance as to the cover of a switch box. Another object is to adapt the actuating mechanism to different thicknesses of walls. Other objects are to facilitate the attachment oi' indicating means and locking means.

Fig. 1 is a front vview illustrating the invention as applied to a fragment of a switch box cover, part being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a side view and partial section oi' the mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an exploded sectional View of the various parts.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the handle.

Fig. 7 is a front view of 'the oscillator and its hub.

As the invention relates to the actuating mechanism rather than the contact making and breaking mechanism, I have shown only a fragment I of the cover or other supporting wall oi.' a housing or receptacle or switch box and only a fragment II of a crank shaft or other moving part oi the switch mechanism.

In its preferred form the actuating mechanism has a base plate I2 secu-red to the box cover wall by a screw I3 which passes through an opening I4 in the box wall and ,seats in a screwthreaded hole I in a plate I6 mounted on the front of the box wall I0.

The actuating lever I1 is mounted on the lstud I8 at the back of the plate I2 so that it can swing about its axis and also slide toward and from the plate I2. has a slot I9 through which passes the movable switch member I I. The base plate I2 has a slotted extension 20 into which the movement of the lever I1 moves the rod II when the circuit through the switch is closed. This locks the cover closed.

The oscillator disc 2| has a hub 22 and a headed stud 23, the latter extending into a slot 24 in the lever I1. A headed stud 25 carried by the lever I1 serves to loosely guide the lever I1 with respect to the oscillator 2i. Thespring 28 connects the disc 2i to a part of the base plate and tends to hold the disc 2i and lever I1 in the "03 position oi the switch.

The cuter end of lever I1 l' When the parts are assembled, the hub 22 ci' the oscillator 2i extends through openings 21 in the wall I0 and plate I8 and Within the sleeve 2| which is externally screw-threaded to llt the screw-threaded opening 29. Sleeve 2B has an angular flange 20 to facilitate adjustment. A

A plate 40 is preferably provided with the 0n and 03" indications and any other information desired. This plate is provided withan opening 4I for the passage of the sleeve 2l.

I'he plate I 8 4is also provided with a ilange 42 having openings 43 for the attachment of switch locking devices (not shown) for holding the handle 32 in the 0n or 012.

To mount the device upon the cover or other wall of the box, it is necessary to cut a hole 21 in the wall for the sleeve 28 and a small hole Il i'or the screw I3. The base plate I2 is then applied to the rear of the wall and the hub 22 inserted through the opening 21. The sleeve 2l is then slipped over the hub 22 and inserted through the opening in the face plate I8 and opening 21 in the wall of the box and screwed into the opening 29 in the base plate until the wall I@ and the plates IU and I6 are clamped tightly between the base plate and the flange 30 o! the sleeve 2l. The handle l2 is then applied and secured by the screw 38 which draws forward the hub 22 and its connected parts until the oscillator 2| abuts against the rear end o! the sleeve 28. This permits the device to be applied to various thicknesses of walls. A washer 3i may be provided ii desired.

From the foregoing it will be` seen that the invention is applicable to various forms of enclosed switches and can be readily applied to a switch box.

Figs. 1, 2. 3, 4 and 5 show the parts assembled and with the handle and lever I1 in the Oil position. By turning the handle from the "01T" position to the left in Fig. 1 or "On position, the oscillator 2| is turned with it and the lever I1 is lifted so as to raise the switch rod II which is mounted in the switch box into the slotted abutment 20 carried by the cover so as to prevent opening the cover on which the handle is mounted.

@camco I claim:

1. Switch actuating mechanism comprising c bese plete, a. stud projecmc from the freer thereu of, en actuating lever hinged emi sidccc upon seid stud @o and from the cese piace, e screw threaded sleeve adjustesy momte in soidbese plate, a hub rotatebe emi sdece m scid sleeve, an oscillator secure@ to scie mo, im omvat-mg connection between seid oscotor eno? seid lever eno en externe-l hame decadas-my connected co seid hub.

2. Switch actuating mechanism comprising e box wall, e stud proeccmg from che rear skereo,

en actuating evcz hingedsnc. sicchle upon seid stud to on@ from, the com well, c, screw scevc sdjustccle through cfs-2, e, huls rou cctabic and slideze in sec seeve, so oscator secured to scid hub, cn operating connecccm be tween scid cscicgos and scid eve and am ester hence detcohsmgf cccmcctcc to seid hub. 3. Switch actuating mechanism momcims e box cove-s, e projeozmg inv-mici? rom 'seid cover, im cetuecng evcr Lcgt-:dg end slidebe uson smic, to en@ im ce ccve o moving s., switch pers, e seevc 'sce @Enough scie. cove-r, hun rote-carrie sc-deb@ in. sleeve, oscictor secci hub, opexcylcg "Lcn sewee c oscillator and. seid level, oomeeczec. so said c cm. che inside of .se-id cover im y fos homing me im movec position eno. che @over in en cioe ctc: s im@ hub feste-mcg mem in@ into che este? scelse c v"missing at cscicacr "l having c Ee from having' the ci to the csc'' G, SY lc estL .cmg s comprising pcte cper cg, cscieso-c mcmcec the reefs scie". A te 'ccd hes/img mb faxed to tics csclenoz' ecc osesssbe rom the Escl-i ci the cese pc te ocwcz'fl'j @hz-ouch cfpencg im 'scid piece, s, ccmpmg sleeve sdsoe sei hcl; :Jod having screw cmeaced emgegcment c the opening in scid pcae emi having e, cnge `m from?, ci scid plete and e, handc member secueo to the from end of scid hub, scid hub having pms inteocced with said hande and sa-ic bandi@ having means covering the e-cge on .ss-io'. sleeve.

'2. Switch ectueing mechanism comp-riem@ e 'fosse piste hcvng .en opening, an oclcvox' mounted et the roer oi seid plate and having a hub projecting forwardly through said opening in seid plete, c clamping sleeve' slidebe on said hubanc having c screw threaded engagement in the opening in sam plat/e and having c enge in from?, of said. piste and a. hende member secured @o the from'. end of, seid hub end c face pate having en opening for seid sleeve and c, fastening device connecting scid case plate and seid moe plate.

8. Operating and cover interlocking mechsmcm for e switch with s movable secured within en enclosure having an oenabe ccver, comprsmg an exterior opereiing hame pivceally moxmced on seid cover, switch actuating mechanism supported incide scie?. cover, one element of csic; mcohsmsm being adepte@ to be connected sai erm of the switch when seid cover is closed, means mechanics-Hy 'conneccmg scid hene so scid sometime mechanism fos opeietion cf he switch crm through movemento the hcnoe when mecmnsm amd are connected, and en. interlocmg psojeotion cn seid. coseclfins" pcrtey in che pech of --cveroent of the swccb. crm cm3. engaging therewith in one position ci the switch crm to prevent opening; of the cocer,

9. cove? mtczcczing mechanism fos e switch wiss. e. mcvebe ccm secuec within can enclosure having en orensbe cove?, co in@ am. extcc cpercgizg Blondie pvotcy mounted am seid cover, c, base pics@ secured csre scid cover, switch actuecisg mechanism sur ported by Scio? basepcte, one ecmem, said mechenism eccpted so 'se connected so said crm ci t@he switch Scicli caves is means mechcnccy connecting scm henoe scid ccsuetmg mechanism for operation of switch crm chromen movement ci the mendicwlen the mechanism and. are connected, one? en mserccl'smg extensicn on seid plate Eycg pmi-,imm iz'.- che 5mm of movement of the switch ccd; engaging therewith in one position. of me swicch. am?. to prevent opening of the cover.

Switch. ccucsis mechanism comprising e. base pase cmd screwed into said opening, en oscccor mounaeo at the cem of seid piace and having a hub secured therezo and inseriamo imo bese plete and .scew' imc saica opening. an @scm Ecco?? mounted ci. che mecc of pisse havn ing c secures'. there-co cod. insercbe ini-.o sleeve from che reci.' thereof, e, henoe mem bcc ci', the from@ of seid bese pie/ue, e. seem-mc' @yew passing hsowh said member crews-:ei imac h and for m'erccsing: sisi bandi@ member en@ seid hun so that hey mei; coge-@hec to accus-'- scifi osclctoiz SETE@ The cllowiog references cre of xecosf' i12, the 

